1893 US Coins: Values & Mintages

US coinage in 1893

The Carson City Mint struck its last coins in 1893. A financial panic that year led to the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.

How many coins were made in 1893

Counting the circulation issues on this page, US mints struck 83,306,946 coins dated 1893 across 15 issues. That is close to the 1892 total of 86,825,491. In 1894 the figure fell to 43,574,139.

It was the smallest year since 1886.

By mint: Philadelphia 70,999,010 (85%, down from 71,673,974), New Orleans 6,845,000 (8.2%, down from 9,615,700), San Francisco 4,785,936 (5.7%, up from 4,183,817) and Carson City 677,000 (0.81%, down from 1,352,000).

Those coins held about 4,967,070 troy ounces of pure silver.

1893 coins by denomination

Cents: 46,640,000 struck in 1 circulation issue of the Indian Head Cent, up 24% on 1892.

Nickels: 13,370,195 struck in 1 circulation issue of the Liberty Head "V" Nickel, up 14% on 1892.

Dimes: 7,591,401 struck in 3 circulation issues of the Barber Dime, down 55% on 1892. The scarcest is the 1893-O (1,760,000) and the most plentiful the 1893 (3,340,000).

Quarters: 10,294,558 struck in 3 circulation issues of the Barber Quarter, down 13% on 1892. The scarcest is the 1893-S (1,454,535) and the most plentiful the 1893 (5,444,023).

Half Dollars: 3,955,792 struck in 3 circulation issues of the Barber Half Dollar, up 68% on 1892. The scarcest is the 1893-S (740,000) and the most plentiful the 1893 (1,826,792).

Dollar Coins: 1,455,000 struck in 4 circulation issues of the Morgan Silver Dollar, down 77% on 1892. The scarcest is the 1893-S (100,000) and the most plentiful the 1893-CC (677,000).

Every 1893 circulation issue at a glance

• 1893-S Morgan Silver Dollar: 100,000 struck, 2nd lowest of 96 in the series, down from 1,200,000 in 1892, a famous date.
• 1893-O Morgan Silver Dollar: 300,000 struck, 6th lowest of 96 in the series, down from 2,744,000 in 1892.
• 1893 Morgan Silver Dollar: 378,000 struck, 9th lowest of 96 in the series, down from 1,036,000 in 1892.
• 1893-CC Morgan Silver Dollar: 677,000 struck, 14th lowest of 96 in the series, down from 1,352,000 in 1892.
• 1893-S Barber Half Dollar: 740,000 struck, 13th lowest of 73 in the series, down from 1,029,028 in 1892.
• 1893-O Barber Half Dollar: 1,389,000 struck, 33rd lowest of 73 in the series, up from 390,000 in 1892.
• 1893-S Barber Quarter: 1,454,535 struck, 22nd lowest of 74 in the series, up from 964,079 in 1892.
• 1893-O Barber Dime: 1,760,000 struck, 21st lowest of 75 in the series, down from 3,841,700 in 1892.
• 1893 Barber Half Dollar: 1,826,792 struck, more than 60% of the series' 73 issues, up from 935,245 in 1892.
• 1893-S Barber Dime: 2,491,401 struck, 30th lowest of 75 in the series, up from 990,710 in 1892.
• 1893 Barber Dime: 3,340,000 struck, 36th lowest of 75 in the series, down from 12,120,000 in 1892.
• 1893-O Barber Quarter: 3,396,000 struck, more than 58% of the series' 74 issues, up from 2,640,000 in 1892.

The 3 more plentiful issues are listed in the tables below.

Indian Head Cent: The 1890s and the 1894 doubled date

Cent demand in the 1890s tracked the economy. Production was about 47 million in 1891 and 1893, but the depression that followed the Panic of 1893 cut 1894 output to 16.7 million, the lowest figure in the decade. The 1894 also has a well known repunched date that shows a clear second set of digits, a favorite variety for the period.

By 1897 output reached 50 million and stayed near that level as the economy recovered. Dies from this decade are generally well made. The Mint's strikes are sharper than in the 1870s, so complete diamonds on the ribbon and full feather tips are common. Coins from these years are among the easiest Indian cents to find in uncirculated condition, though fully red examples remain scarce because bronze tones over time.

See every Indian Head Cent →

Liberty Head "V" Nickel: Steady circulation years

Production recovered in 1887 to more than 15 million and stayed between roughly 10 and 17 million through most of the next several years. The depression that followed the Panic of 1893 cut 1894 output to 5.4 million, making it a scarcer date for the decade. By 1899 production rose above 26 million as the economy grew again.

These dates form the middle of the series and are usually found worn to Good or Very Good, since Liberty Head nickels stayed in circulation for decades. Wear first shows on the letters of LIBERTY on the coronet and on the hair above the forehead, so collectors use those spots to grade them. Proofs were made every year, so some lower grade coins are worn proofs. Strikes vary from year to year, with weak corn ears at the left of the wreath a common flaw.

Collectors judge Liberty nickels of these years by the coronet. LIBERTY should be readable in every letter on a Fine coin and in better grades the hair curls above the forehead keep their detail. Proofs were struck every year for collectors and survive in good numbers, so a coin with mirror-like fields is worth checking against a proof before you assume it is a circulation strike.

See every Liberty Head "V" Nickel →

Barber Quarter: Charles Barber's debut and two reverse types

Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber's design replaced the Seated Liberty quarter in 1892. Liberty wears a cap, a laurel wreath and a headband inscribed LIBERTY. The reverse uses a heraldic eagle adapted from the Great Seal. Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco all struck quarters from the start, with the mint mark below the eagle.

Early 1892 coins show the Type 1 reverse, on which the eagle's wing covers only about half of the E in UNITED. A modified Type 2 reverse later that year covers nearly all of the letter. Specialists collect both types. Mintages in these years run from about 964,000 for the 1892-S upward, so no date of the era is a true rarity. Most survivors are worn to Good or Very Good, where the rims have merged into the legends.

See every Barber Quarter →

Barber Half Dollar: Barber halves debut at three mints

Charles Barber's half dollar matched his dime and quarter of 1892, with Liberty's head on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco all struck it from the start. The 1892-O includes the rare Micro O variety, with a mint mark much smaller than normal, apparently from a punch made for a smaller denomination.

Mintages in these years ran from 390,000 for the 1892-O to more than 4 million for the 1894-S. The 1892-O and 1893-S, at 740,000, are scarce in mint state. Barber halves wore quickly at the high points of the cap and hair. Most survivors from these years show the LIBERTY headband partly or wholly worn away. First-year 1892 Philadelphia coins were saved in some numbers and are the easiest of the period in high grade.

See every Barber Half Dollar →

Morgan Silver Dollar: Sherman Act years and the early keys

Philadelphia struck about 20 million dollars a year in the late 1880s, but some branch mint dates were small. The 1889-CC, at 350,000, is a key. San Francisco's 1886-S, 1888-S and 1889-S all fell below one million. The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 replaced Bland-Allison with larger silver purchases, though dollar coinage fell once the act stopped requiring it in 1891. Much of the bullion was paid for with Treasury notes rather than coined at once.

Mintages dropped sharply in 1892 and 1893. The 1893-S, with only 100,000 struck, is the key business strike of the series and a common target for altered mint marks and counterfeits. The 1892-S is plentiful in worn grades but rare uncirculated. Carson City stopped coining after 1893, making the 1893-CC its last dollar. The 1893 Philadelphia run of 378,000 is scarce as well.

See every Morgan Silver Dollar →

Barber Dime: A new design at three mints

Charles E. Barber's Liberty head replaced the Seated Liberty dime in 1892, after an open design competition in 1891 failed to produce anything the Mint would accept. The Chief Engraver's portrait went on the quarter and half dollar the same year. Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco all struck dimes from the start, with the mint mark placed below the bow of the wreath on the reverse.

Philadelphia's 12,120,000 dimes of 1892 make it the most common date of the early years and it is easy to find in worn grades. New Orleans added 3,841,700. San Francisco struck only 990,710 that year, so the 1892-S is scarce in all grades and a good first target for anyone building a set. In 1893 output fell everywhere: Philadelphia made 3,340,000, New Orleans 1,760,000 and San Francisco 2,491,401. Across the two years the three mints struck 24,543,811 Barber dimes.

Look closely at the date on a Philadelphia 1893. Some were struck from a die on which the final 3 was punched over a 2. On this 1893/2 overdate the base of the 2 shows as a line inside the lower loop of the 3. The variety is subtle and mainly interests variety specialists, but it carries a collector premium when confirmed. For grading any coin of these years, check LIBERTY on the headband: if all seven letters are clear, the coin grades Fine or better.

See every Barber Dime →